text:
Local Gov't 2016 : Musgrave Market in deplorable condition
Outstanding vending fees have derailed efforts by the Portland Parish Council to effect needy repairs to the Musgrave Market in Port Antonio, according to Deputy Mayor Benny White.
White admitted that the market has been in a deplorable state for more than three years. This is in spite of the the facility having undergone extensive repairs some seven years ago.
"We inherited a market that underwent major repairs, but of a poor quality," said White.
"As it now stands, the roof is leaking heavily and that has been an ongoing situation. From time to time, we carry out a little repair to correct the varied problems, but our efforts are hampered by a shortage of cash as vendors are not complying with the payment of vending fees. We have a situation wherein persons are stealing water and electricity, which puts a serious strain on the council," White added.
The council spent approximately $45 million in 2008 to repair the market.
White said that vendors owe the council approximately $1 million in vending fees and the vendors' failure to pay market fees is the reason for the state of the market.
However, Monica Thompson, a spokesperson for the vendors, said that whenever it rains the entire market is flooded - forcing them to hurriedly secure their goods from been damaged.
"Failure on the part of anyone to pay vending fees will result in them been evicted," said Thompson, who has been selling craft items at the market since 1984,
"Even if it rains for a month, we still have to pay our vending fees. And whenever it rains, we have to shut down our stalls and secure our goods. They are aware of the leaking roof and they are also aware that a major section of the market is without electricity for more than a year now. I operate six stalls and I have to pay $1,800 each week, whether or not I sell an item. Many of us are unable to operate after 5 p.m. as there is no light," she told THE STAR.
It costs $300 to operate a stall at the Musgrave Market per week. Approximately 120 vendors operate from the market on full-time basis, while an additional 40 persons operates stalls three to four days per week.


text:
Search Engine Academy Washington DC features an infographic from Conductor that shows the top 20 cities that have a high demand for SEO specialists.
Washington, DC - January 08, 2013 -- Search Engine Academy
Washington DC is highlighting an infographic from Conductor that features the top 20 cities where search engine optimization (SEO) work is available. The demand for SEO specialists is growing as more businesses and companies realize that putting a website up on the internet without apply SEO won't get their pages online visibility. Search engine optimization jobs are posted now, and anyone who has considered an SEO career can get hired with some SEO training.

domain: news


text:
AGCO, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, and Russian Machines, part of the Basic Element group and one of the leaders in the Russian machinery sector, today announced the creation of a new joint venture in order to manufacture and distribute agricultural equipment and replacement parts in Russia. AGCO and Russian Machines plan to make a total investment of approximately $100 million in the joint venture over the next three years.
The joint venture is expected to begin operations in early 2014, with AGCO and Russian Machines each having an equal ownership. The manufacturing facility will be located in Golitsyno, near Moscow, with a total area of nearly 12.5 hectares including 27,000 square meters of production facilities. The site will include a product show room, a training center and will feature state of the art manufacturing processes. The training center will offer courses designed to educate customers and dealers on the latest agri machinery technologies. Additional plans include the creation of a Model Farm, based on the agricultural business of Basic Element, to develop and disseminate modern full-cycle agricultural solutions that help to improve efficiency of Russian farmers.
The joint venture plans to offer comprehensive agricultural solutions for medium and large scale farmers, including support services such as financing and insurance, leveraging Russian Machines’ supply chain strengths and providing AGCO with a strong local partner. AGCO will introduce more of its high-tech products into the Russian market, while Russian Machines will provide the necessary production capabilities and support with local business development expertise.
"This joint venture is a very significant step in AGCO’s growth strategy for the Russian market,” said Martin Richenhagen, AGCO Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The agricultural sector in Russia has significant potential but needs modernization and efficiency gains. The joint venture between AGCO and Russian Machines is to join forces in bringing local farmers a wide range of professional farming equipment, technologies, services and solutions.”
Siegfried Wolf, Chairman of Russian Machines commented, “We believe that the combination of AGCO's technology driven products with Russian Machine’s local production capabilities will lead to a highly successful business operation that will enhance the shareholder value of both companies."


text:
A UK tourism industry which is under pressure to slash travel and jobs amid the EU referendum could see a surge in numbers if the UK remains in the bloc, according to an industry source.
“The UK is going to go down as the tourism sector that lost out on the referendum,” said James Pannell, chief executive of the Tourism & Culture Organisation (T&C).
“I think the Brexit vote was a wake-up call to all of us.”
Pannell said the industry had seen a huge surge in interest in its tourism and the Brexit result has had a ripple effect.
“It’s very much a case of the tourism industry has become the target of people across the UK and overseas,” he said.
“We’ve seen a lot of people trying to get a foothold in the tourism market and this has resulted in a lot more people going out to the market.”
T&Cs boss James Pang said the decline in the number of British tourists coming to Europe had been a major driver for the industry.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot less tourism coming to the UK because of Brexit,” he told News Corp Australia.
“But the big issue is the impact on our local economy.
We’re going to see some tourism growth in Australia, New Zealand and South America but we’ve already lost a lot in the US and the UK.”
Australia is currently in a tourism boom, with an estimated 20 million visitors a year, while New Zealand has been one of the biggest markets for international visitors.
Tourism and hospitality are growing rapidly in Europe, with the industry expected to grow by about 8% a year over the next decade.
“You’ve got this massive demand from the world’s major tourism hubs, you’ve got a boom in China and there’s a lot going on in Asia,” Pannetell said.”[In Australia] we’re going through a really good period of growth and the growth of tourism is going very, very fast.”
Pang said while the tourism boom in Australia was being fuelled by “massive demand” from the US, Europe and Asia, the decline there was due to a different set of factors.
“For one, there are the economic pressures,” he added.
“So there’s lots of tourists coming in and lots of jobs being created.”
And there’s the fact that the economy is going through very tough times and we’ve got very difficult trade deals.
“The biggest economic shock for the tourism business in the last couple of years has been Brexit, so the economic shock is the biggest shock to the tourism trade in the world right now.”
Pell said that while the UK was losing business, it was also losing people.
“There’s been a huge number of people who have been unemployed for years now, they’re working in other countries and there are a lot who have got the skills but there are also a lot people who just want to come to the country and work, and are unemployed,” he continued.
“That’s a huge challenge for the economy, and it’s going too well for the sector.”
Panthers boss of Australia, Darren Croker, said it was vital for the UK to stay in the EU.
“When you talk about the economic impact of the UK leaving the EU, we’re the largest economy in the European Union and I think the Government needs to recognise that,” he suggested.
“A lot of the people who work in the UK, who are in the industry, they want to work in Australia.”
“So the fact of the matter is if you’re not in Europe you can’t have your voice heard in our business, in our tourism and it needs to be in the Government’s hands.”
If we leave, it’s really hard for the business and for the Government to take advantage of that.
“Croker said the Australian Government had no plans to leave the EU but it was likely to do so.”
Obviously we’ve been thinking a lot about how to protect the jobs that are in Australia,” he explained.”
They’re here, they are valued by Australia and if we lose the jobs, there’s no way for us to compete.
“Australia and the European single market has been an irritant for the British, with British Prime Minister David Cameron saying in September that leaving the bloc would make him “extremely angry” at the bloc.


text:
For the past few years, economic commentators have been watching India become one of the economic powerhouses of the world. The rise of the internet has seen Indian businesses expand rapidly and they are now challenging or even beating their European and American competitors in a variety of sectors. Much of this has been down to the fact that ecommerce in India has been at the forefront, not just with some of their larger companies, but with many of their smaller online retailers, many of whom are members of the All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA).
The All India Online Vendors looks after the interests of the smaller Indian online vendors and they meet, as you may expect, online on a form on the All India Online Vendors Association website. This week has seen the AIOVA draft a petition that has alleged that ecommerce firms including Flipkart, Amazon, and Snapdeal have been violating existing marketplace rules of government. The petition goes on to demand that steps have to be taken by the Indian government that will protect both online sellers and buyers in the years to come. The petition states:
“Even today, the marketplaces are openly violating these rules and there is no enforcement from the government. We require special tribunals to take up sellers’ issues the way consumer courts, electricity tribunals, debt recovery tribunals and others have been set up.”
The petition will be delivered to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, finance minister Arun Jaitley and commerce and industries minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Much of the grievances stem from the fact that the telecoms sector is still feeling the impact of huge debts, whilst carriers face pressure on profitability and revenue. Other grievance that have been raised by the All India Online Vendors Association include:
- A grievance cell for sellers
- A competitive market for all
- The prevention of cartelisation
- The prevention of monopolies
- The creation of accounting standards
- The creation of auditing standards
- Disclosure norms to prevent scams
Much of the grievance stem from allegations from small and medium sellers are being treated unfavourably by marketplaces who they allege, favour consumers and larger online retailers.
The All India Online Vendors Association have been active over the past 12 months in representing the views and interests of their members. Recently, the AIOVA wrote to the Indian government about the number of outstanding dues and goods in transit or refunds from Snapdeal. They also asked the Indian commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman to intervene in the matter, which she did, as well as agree to look into the wider concerns of small and medium online retailers.


text:
Interest J-Cast: Gainax Not Contacted About Victoria Secret's Evangelion Lookalike
posted on 2012-11-16 19:00 EST by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The J-Cast Japanese website reported on Thursday that Gainax indicated that it had not been contacted by Victoria's Secret regarding the Evangelion lookalike outfit (pictured at right) that model Jourdan Dunn wore during the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion show held in New York City on November 7. J-Cast added that Gainax only learned about the outfit from the Internet and was perplexed by the situation.
The annual event features the undergarment and lingerie chain's "Angels" models showing off the company's latest designs accompanied by popular musical artists. The fashion show will air in the United States on CBS on December 4 at 10:00 p.m. EST/9:00p.m. CST.
Victoria's Secret has yet to make an official comment to the press on the issue.
[Via Hachima Kikō]
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history
Available Now: Juni Taisen: Zodiac War ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2017 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you alternate takes on most every show. The guide is ongoing, or...


text:
In a notice posted on its website yesterday, the FDA claimed to have received more than 30,000 comments about the proposed rule since its ascension to the US Federal Register in February 2013. Based on those received to-date, there is a “fair amount of confusion about what the labelling change would actually mean,” it said.
The petition, which was filed by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in March 2009, requested an amendment to the standard of identity for milk to allow milk flavouring ingredients to be sweetened with “any safe and suitable sweetener.”
According to the petitioners, approving their request would help stem the current milk consumption decline in US schools, and “level the playing field” with beverages that are allowed to use the sweeteners.
The proposed rule remains open for comment until 21 May 2013.
Petition generated “much interest – and confusion”
The notice added that many consumers are still “under the impression” that the addition of non-nutritive sweeteners will not be listed at all.
“The petition from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) was published in public comment in the Federal Register and has generated much interest – and confusion,” said the FDA notice.
Under the current US regulation, manufacturers that include an ingredient not listed in the standard of identity are required to modify the main display panel of their product to exhibit “a nutrient content claim.”
For example, the replacement of a nutritive sweetener, such as sugar, with a non-nutritive sweetener, such as aspartame, in flavoured milk would reduce the calorie count of the product. Under the existing rule, words such as ‘reduced calorie’ would need to be displayed.
Under the proposed amendment, the inclusion of non-nutritive sweetener would still be listed as an ingredient, but manufacturers would not be required to provide “any additional description on the label.”
“People commenting in response to the Federal Register notice appear to be under the impression that the non-nutritive sweeteners will not be listed anywhere on the product – which is not the case. They would still be named in the ingredients list on the package,” said the FDA notice.
“Misinformation in the news and online”
Speaking with DairyReporter.com yesterday, IDFA vice president of communications, Peggy Armstrong, said that there has been “a lot of misinformation in the news and online” about the petition.
“Much of this incorrect information is being driven by activists, who are telling consumers that the dairy industry wants to add no-calorie sweeteners to white milk and to ‘hide’ the use of a no-calorie sweetener by not including it on the label,” said Armstrong. “Neither statement is true.”
“All ingredients would still be listed on the label. The dairy industry is working on many innovative products, using some new natural sweeteners including stevia and monk fruit juice. But no matter what is used by dairy food makers, anything that is an ingredient in the product – including all sweeteners – is on the label. And will always be on the label.”


text:
Escape Outside with WMUR.com to find the latest information and deals across New Hampshire and New England.
High jumpers compete in grocery store produce section
This week, see what it takes to start ice fishing. And there's big news at Cannon Mountain.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a wide-ranging gun bill into law Wednesday that has critics howling and proponents applauding.
House Bill 60, or the Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 -- which opponents have nicknamed the "guns everywhere bill" -- spe...


text:
Brewery District Featured in 2015 Builder Annual of Condo Guide
As one of Wesgroup's masterplan communities, Brewery District was featured in the New Condo Guide's 2015 edition of the Builder Annual.
Wesgroup has transformed Sapperton's old Labatt Brewery site into a hub of social activity now known as Brewery District. The masterplan community has built retail spaces for shops and services such as Save-On Foods, Take Five Cafe, and TD Bank. The neighbourhood is also home to the headquarters of Translink, the Health Sciences Association and numerous medical offices.
With its close proximity to rapid transit, Brewery District is the epitome of a transit-oriented community. The desirability of purchasing condos next to a SkyTrain station is now being compared to that of purchasing homes along the waterfront. The Sapperton, the first residential tower to be built in Brewery District is now selling 116 homes in 15 stories that also include multi-level townhomes.
To read the rest of the Builder's Annual article in the New Condo Guide, click here .


text:
Apple has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to reboot the classic children’s ‘muppet’ series Fraggle Rock as a global Apple Original series for Apple TV+.
Produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with New Regency, the series will reunite the original puppet (or rather, muppet) ‘stars’ – Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley and Uncle Travelling Matt – for “new songs and adventures, with the same spirit as the classic.”
The original show debuted in 1983 and told the stories of several interconnected muppet societies.
The new series comes following the positive reception of the Apple TV+ shorts Fraggle Rock: Rock On!, which recently debuted on the service. These mini-episodes saw the characters meet famous guest stars including musician Alanis Morissette and actor Neil Patrick Harris.
Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford will executive produce the new series for The Jim Henson Company. Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of New Regency and long-time Henson collaborator John Tartaglia (Splash And Bubbles, Johnny And The Sprites) are also executive producing. Showrunners Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson (New Girl, American Dad) are attached to executive produce and write. Rita Peruggi (The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance, Yo Gabba Gabba!) will produce. Dave Goelz (performing Boober and Uncle Travelling Matt) and Karen Prell (performing Red) are also attached to the project.
A statement from Apple said that: “The new Fraggle Rock series will join an award-winning lineup of today’s most trusted franchises in kids and family programming. “With families around the world staying at home, Apple is featuring curated collections of TV shows, movies, music, podcasts, books, apps and games for families and kids of all ages.
“These collections have been created to help parents inspire and entertain their kids and to assist teachers who are exploring creative ways to facilitate remote learning.”


text:
Lauren Conrad is choosing business over boys and venturing into yet another business opportunity. The former Hills star will launch a makeup line in the near future.
LC called it quits with boyfriend, Kyle Howard, in June, but instead of being a regular fixture on the Hollywood singles scene, she’s decided to put all of her attention and focus into Lauren Conrad, Inc.
Conrad launched TheBeautyDepartment.com with her longtime hairstyling pro, Kristen Ess, and makeup artist, Amy Nadine, back in April and they’re taking it one step further to make the website’s beauty and makeup do-it-yourself tips into the real thing.
Right now, one of my main objectives is to expand TheBeautyDepartment.com into a product line, Conrad wrote on her Forbes.com blog.
Although the line isn’t complete just yet, LC is hard at work.
I am currently researching all of my options, but should begin the process of executing an actual line very soon, she wrote.
But if you think one major project on the go is enough for LC, you’re mistaken. The reality star turned fashion designer also plans to expand her already-successful apparel lines. She currently has two labels on the go, LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s and the more recently launched Paper Crown.
On top of that, I’ll be working on completing my fifth book, The Fame Game, the star added.
Would you wear products from LC’s makeup line?


text:
It appears that you can no longer but a Nexus phone from Google Play. Google killed the 8GB version a month back saying there would no longer be replenishments. Now the 16GB version is out of stock. Luckily, there are replacements right around the corner.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel


text:
The latest state lawsuit against two Florida companies charged with violating the state telemarketing law points up a big hole in Missouri’s no-call system.
Summer Bay Sales and Marketing of Clearmark Florida and Tele Secure International of Pompano Beach have been sued by the Attorney General for calling people whose numbers are on the state no-call list.
Missouri’s no-call law is more than a decade old. But the Consumer Affairs Chief Counsel, Doug Ommen, says a lot of people are still getting calls they don’t want.
“We still continue to receive hundreds of complaints on a weekly basis from consumers that are getting those calls,” he says. Two out of five calls are from consumers getting unwanted calls on their cell phones. The Attorney General often can do something about unwanted calls on land-line phones. But state law does not provide protection for cell-phone users and the legislature repeatedly has refused to extend the no-call program for them.
Ommen says the issue is becoming more severe as an increasing number of Missourians cancel land-line service and rely only on cell phones.
BP interviews Doug Ommen 10:36 [Download / listen Mp3]


text:
New Zealand first-quarter retail sales volumes rose at the slowest pace for three quarters, missing economist expectations.
The volume of retail sales increased a seasonally adjusted 0.8 per cent in the three months through March from the December quarter, Statistics New Zealand said. That lags behind the 1 per cent forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. Retail sales volumes for the December quarter were revised lower to 1.1 per cent from 1.2 per cent. Core retail volumes, which excludes the more volatile vehicle-related industries, increased 1 per cent in the March quarter, the agency said.
Some 11 of the 15 industries had higher sales volumes in the latest quarter, with the largest increased in electrical and electronic goods retailing, which grew 3.8 per cent, online and commission-based retailing which gained 10 per cent, food, and beverage services up 1.3 per cent, and clothing, footwear and accessories ahead 1.7 per cent. That was offset by a 3.8 per cent decline in specialised food retailing and a 0.6 per cent fall in liquor sales.
"Following solid gains through the latter part of 2015, retail spending growth eased off a bit in early 2016," Westpac Banking Corp senior economist Satish Ranchhod said in a note. "The moderation in retail sales growth in early 2016 isn't too surprising. Late 2015 saw strong growth in spending on durable items such as hardware and furnishings, and it's normal to subsequently see a bit of a softening."
Westpac's Ranchhod said the report highlighted that inflation in the economy remains subdued.
On an unadjusted basis, the volume of retail spending rose 4.8 per cent in the March quarter, compared with the same quarter in 2015. That's ahead of the 3.9 per cent gain expected in the Reuters poll of economists.
The value of actual retail sales increased 4.7 per cent to $20.16 billion.
Stripping out vehicle-related spending, the volume of core retail sales rose 4.7 per cent, while the value gained 5.1 per cent.
Retailers' inventories were 3 percent high at $7.23 billion at March 31 compared with the year earlier, with core retail stocks up 3.2 per cent.


text:
The email service gets a tune up.
Outlook users, rejoice! Microsoft recently launched a beta version of their email service. If you're using Outlook currently, keep an eye out for some big changes, as well as some fun new details.
Most importantly, Microsoft says they are "implementing a more responsive web development framework." For the user, this means a better search interface (so you can actually find what you're looking for) as well as a conversational style inbox, which is useful for keeping track of long message threads.
The new search interface will feature photo aggregation, so every photo either sent or received can be found in one place. Users will also be able to mark their favorite contacts and folders, making them easier to find during a search.
Another new feature is Quick Suggestions. As you type an email, useful information about specific topics can pop up, like information about local restaurants and shops or the details of an upcoming flight.
Microsoft will also be incorporating emojis and gifs, which is bound to make every inbox a lot more colorful.
If you're interested in trying out this new version in advance, watch out for a "Try the Beta" button to appear at the top right of your inbox in the coming weeks.
NEXT STORY: Report: USDA CIO Reassigned


text:
The dad or mum organization of Dunkin’ Donuts has agreed to pay hundreds of countless numbers of pounds in prices and fines to settle a lawsuit that accused the organization of glazing in excess of many cyber-attacks.
The suit was filed against Dunkin’ Manufacturers Team Inc. in point out Supreme Court in Manhattan in September last 12 months by the state of New York’s attorney general Letitia James.
James alleged that Dunkin’ neglected to notify shoppers of cyber-attacks that took place amongst 2015 and 2018 that compromised the accounts of 1000’s of consumers.
Attackers made use of automated credential stuffing and brute-force attacks to steal money from buyer accounts produced through Dunkin’s absolutely free mobile application or web page.
James alleged that Dunkin’ failed to tell consumers that attacks experienced taken location, despite remaining warned repeatedly about the issue by its application developer.
For the duration of the summer season of 2015, Dunkin’s application developer supplied the firm with a checklist of 19,715 accounts that had been compromised by attacks above a sample time period of just five days, but the donut seller failed to notify shoppers or improve its security, according to the lawsuit.
When the lawsuit was filed, Dunkin’s chief communications officer Karen Raskopf explained to Infosecurity Magazine that there was “no basis for these claims” and that the organization looked ahead “to proving our situation in court.”
On the other hand, on Tuesday, Dunkin’ Manufacturers Team Inc. agreed to $650,000 in fines and expenses to settle the lawsuit, according to Reuters. The business further more acquiesced to carrying out an up grade of its security protocols.
Beneath the phrases of the settlement, Dunkin’ customers will be notified of the cyber-assaults that took place between 2015 and 2018 and will be advised to reset their passwords.
Dunkin’ has further more agreed to give refunds for unauthorized transactions that occurred on their Dunkin’ brand name stored-worth cards.
Dunkin’ has not verified or denied any wrongdoing in relation to the cyber-attacks. The settlement of the go well with calls for a judge’s approval.
The organization, which is dependent in Canton, Massachusetts, has about 8,000 branches nationally, which includes 1,000 Dunkin’ destinations in New York.
Announcing the settlement, James punned: “Not only will customers be reimbursed for missing funds, but we are making certain the company’s dangerous brew of lax security and carelessness comes to an end.”
Some parts of this article is sourced from:


text:
|By Business Wire||
|November 26, 2012 10:07 AM EST||
Precision Software, a division of QAD Inc. (NASDAQ: QADA) (NASDAQ: QADB), a leading provider of transportation and trade management solutions and a Gold level member of the Oracle® Partner Network (OPN), today announced it has achieved Oracle Validated Integration of Precision Software Transportation Management System (TMS) Parcel v2012 with Oracle Transportation Management 6.2.
Precision TMS now offers a comprehensive multi-carrier manifesting application integrated with Oracle Transportation Management to support small parcel shipping. This enhances rapid shipment processing for high volume shipping environments. The integration offers carrier compliant label generation and end-of-day manifesting utilizing Precision Software global carrier certifications (more than 40 worldwide).
To achieve Oracle Validated Integration, Oracle partners are required to meet a stringent set of requirements that are based on the needs and priorities of the customers. With the continuing growth of online retailing, the requirement to support parcel shipping is more important than ever. It is now becoming essential for companies to include parcel in their freight mix and this is a driving force for the integration. Precision Software TMS extends the functionality of Oracle Transportation Management by making it easier for customers to consider parcel carrier services during rate analysis and planning.
The connectivity between the systems allows customers to build shipping networks that include parcel carrier services. This also allows for these shipments to be considered during planning and optimization in Oracle Transportation Management.
“By enabling customers to easily consider parcel carrier services during rate analysis and planning, Oracle Validated Integration with Precision Software TMS can allow our existing and new clients to reduce costs and achieve a much quicker time to market,” said Robert Clesi, senior manager, Alliance Partners, Precision Software. “Precision takes great care in evaluating the market requirements, and we feel that we have expanded on the international capabilities and scalability with this recent offering.”
“Oracle Validated Integration applies a rigorous technical review and test process,” said Kevin O’Brien, senior director, ISV and SaaS Strategy, Oracle. “Achieving Oracle Validated Integration through Oracle Partner Network gives our customers confidence that the integration between Precision Software TMS Parcel v2012 and Oracle Transportation Management 6.2 has been validated, and that the products work together as designed. This helps reduce risk and improves the implementation cycles for our joint customers.”
About Oracle Validated Integration
Oracle Validated Integration, available through the Oracle Partner Network (OPN), gives customers confidence that the integration of complementary partner software products with Oracle Applications and specific Oracle Fusion Middleware solutions have been validated, and the products work together as designed. This can help customers reduce risk, improve system implementation cycles, and provide for smoother upgrades and simpler maintenance. Oracle Validated Integration applies a rigorous technical process to review partner integrations. Partners who have successfully completed the program are authorized to use the “Oracle Validated Integration” logo. For more information, please visit Oracle.com at http://www.oracle.com/us/partnerships/solutions/index.html.
About Oracle Partner Network
Oracle Partner Network (OPN) Specialized is the latest version of Oracle's partner program that provides partners with tools to better develop, sell and implement Oracle solutions. OPN Specialized offers resources to train and support specialized knowledge of Oracle products and solutions and has evolved to recognize Oracle's growing product portfolio, partner base and business opportunity. Key to the latest enhancements to OPN is the ability for partners to differentiate through Specializations. Specializations are achieved through competency development, business results, expertise and proven success. To find out more visit, http://www.oracle.com/partners.
Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be the registered trademarks of their respective owners.
About Precision Software
Precision Software, a division of QAD Inc. (NASDAQ: QADA) (NASDAQ: QADB), provides industry-leading transportation and global trade management software solutions from a single, integrated platform. The Precision suite of products is designed with open architecture allowing for easy integration with leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and existing legacy solutions to reduce transportation costs, avoid delays at trans-border crossings and mitigate the risks associated with dynamic trading environments. Precision Software customers span multiple industries including life sciences, consumer packaged goods, electronics, retail, industrial products, food and beverage, and 3rd party logistics providers. For more information about Precision Software, visit www.precisionsoftware.com or e-mail [email protected].
Note to Investors: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “could”, “will likely result”, “estimates”, “intends”, “may”, “projects”, “should”, and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy and future conditions. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, evolving demand for the company's software products and products that operate with the company's products; the company's ability to sustain license and service demand; the company's ability to leverage changes in technology; the company's ability to sustain customer renewal rates at current levels; the publication of opinions by industry and financial analysts about the company, its products and technology; the reliability of estimates of transaction and integration costs and benefits; the entry of new competitors or new offerings by existing competitors and the associated announcement of new products and technological advances by them; delays in localizing the company's products for new or existing markets; the ability to recruit and retain key personnel; delays in sales as a result of lengthy sales cycles; changes in operating expenses, pricing, timing of new product releases, the method of product distribution or product mix; timely and effective integration of newly acquired businesses; general economic conditions; exchange rate fluctuations; and, the global political environment. In addition, revenue and earnings in the software industry are subject to fluctuations. Software license revenue, in particular, is subject to variability with a significant proportion of revenue earned in the last month of each quarter. Given the high margins associated with license revenue, modest fluctuations can have a substantial impact on net income. Investors should not use any one quarter's results as a benchmark for future performance. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with QAD Inc., including its Precision Software division, and the industries in which it operates, please refer to QAD Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2012 ended January 31, 2012, and in particular, the section entitled “Risk Factors” therein, and in other periodic reports QAD Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
GENBAND introduced its Real Time Communications (RTC) Client for Lync* to seamlessly combine real-time communications with Lync Instant Messaging (IM) and Presence. “We’re shaking up the economics of delivering Unified Communications (UC) and offering a compelling way to integrate previously bespoke communications technologies,” said Carl Baptiste, GENBAND’s Senior Vice President, Enterprise Solutions. “We’re offering enterprises the best of both worlds by combining our own high availability voice, video and collaboration with Lync’s IM and Presence; creating a single, web centric, client. O...
Apr. 21, 2015 09:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,250
SYS-CON Events announced today that GENBAND, a leading developer of real time communications software solutions, has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's WebRTC Summit, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. The GENBAND team will be on hand to demonstrate their newest product, Kandy. Kandy is a communications Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that enables companies to seamlessly integrate more human communications into their Web and mobile applications - creating more engaging experiences for their customers and boosting collaboration and productiv...
Apr. 21, 2015 09:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,380
Can call centers hang up the phones for good? Intuitive Solutions did. WebRTC enabled this contact center provider to eliminate antiquated telephony and desktop phone infrastructure with a pure web-based solution, allowing them to expand beyond brick-and-mortar confines to a home-based agent model. It also ensured scalability and better service for customers, including MUY! Companies, one of the country's largest franchise restaurant companies with 232 Pizza Hut locations. This is one example of WebRTC adoption today, but the potential is limitless when powered by IoT.
Apr. 21, 2015 09:00 AM EDT Reads: 5,046
SYS-CON Events announced today that SoftLayer, an IBM company, has been named “Gold Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place June 9-11, 2015 at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place November 3–5, 2015 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. SoftLayer operates a global cloud infrastructure platform built for Internet scale. With a global footprint of data centers and network points of presence, SoftLayer provides infrastructure as a service to leading-edge customers ranging from ...
Apr. 21, 2015 08:45 AM EDT Reads: 2,528
SYS-CON Events announced today that BroadSoft, the leading global provider of Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) services to operators worldwide, has been named “Gold Sponsor” of SYS-CON's WebRTC Summit, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. BroadSoft is the leading provider of software and services that enable mobile, fixed-line and cable service providers to offer Unified Communications over their Internet Protocol networks. The Company’s core communications platform enables the delivery of a range of enterprise and consumer calling...
Apr. 21, 2015 08:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,281
SYS-CON Events announced today that Cisco, the worldwide leader in IT that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, has been named “Gold Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Cisco makes amazing things happen by connecting the unconnected. Cisco has shaped the future of the Internet by becoming the worldwide leader in transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco and our partners are building the platform for the Internet of Everything by connecting the...
Apr. 21, 2015 08:30 AM EDT Reads: 5,697
SYS-CON Events announced today that Liaison Technologies, a leading provider of data management and integration cloud services and solutions, has been named "Silver Sponsor" of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York, NY. Liaison Technologies is a recognized market leader in providing cloud-enabled data integration and data management solutions to break down complex information barriers, enabling enterprises to make smarter decisions, faster.
Apr. 21, 2015 08:15 AM EDT Reads: 3,772
Recent technology advances in miniaturization has positioned the wearables as the pinnacle of technology convergence with the human body. We inquire if wearables are mere standard miniaturized devices extended with the connectivity and present our views on considerations like design, applications, performance, efficiency, interoperability, usage scenarios, human device interaction and consequent trade-offs enabling wearables to impart optimal value.
Apr. 21, 2015 08:15 AM EDT Reads: 305
Participants will reach the final if their IoT solution is liked. A community vote will determine the best solutions submitted in each country, after which an expert jury will select the national winners and the best international IoT solution. Each country's best solution can win a national marketing campaign worth up to €30,000 and become a partner in Deutsche Telekom's participating markets. The winning international solution can become partner of Deutsche Telekom Group across all eight countries and reach out to a potential of 10,8 million business customers. Deutsche Telekom Group has a...
Apr. 21, 2015 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 902
SYS-CON Events announced today that Windstream, a leading provider of advanced network and cloud communications, has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9–11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York, NY. Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN), a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas.
Apr. 21, 2015 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 4,970
SYS-CON Events announced today that ProfitBricks, the provider of painless cloud infrastructure, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY., and the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. ProfitBricks is the IaaS provider that offers a painless cloud experience for all IT users, with no learning curve. ProfitBricks boasts flexible cloud servers and networking, an integrated Data Center Designer tool f...
Apr. 21, 2015 07:30 AM EDT Reads: 1,568
In this session we look at creating interactive communications via the web by adding messaging, file transfer, and group communication (group chat and audio/video conferencing) into the web experience. We will also discuss potential applications of this technology in areas including B2B, B2C, P2P, and gaming. Peter is Technical Director at Acision. He graduated from The University of Edinburgh in 2000 with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science. After graduation Peter worked on a PSTN switch developing signalling stacks for SS7, ISDN and similar protocols and creating advanced routing and serv...
Apr. 21, 2015 07:30 AM EDT Reads: 276
SYS-CON Events announced today that Dyn, the worldwide leader in Internet Performance, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Dyn is a cloud-based Internet Performance company. Dyn helps companies monitor, control, and optimize online infrastructure for an exceptional end-user experience. Through a world-class network and unrivaled, objective intelligence into Internet conditions, Dyn ensures traffic gets delivered faster, safer, and more reliably than ever.
Apr. 21, 2015 07:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,398
SYS-CON Events announced today that Open Data Centers (ODC), a carrier-neutral colocation provider, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Open Data Centers is a carrier-neutral data center operator in New Jersey and New York City offering alternative connectivity options for carriers, service providers and enterprise customers.
Apr. 21, 2015 06:45 AM EDT Reads: 2,661
SYS-CON Events announced today that On the Avenue Marketing Group, a sales and marketing firm that utilizes events to market and sell products to consumers, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. On the Avenue Marketing Group (OTA) is a sales and marketing firm that utilizes events to market and sell products to consumers. On behalf of our clients, we attend thousands of fairs, festivals, expos, concerts, conferences, and sporting events annually, helping them reach millions of individuals ...
Apr. 21, 2015 06:30 AM EDT Reads: 3,258
SYS-CON Events announced today that ActiveState, the leading independent Cloud Foundry and Docker-based PaaS provider, has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's DevOps Summit New York, which will take place June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. ActiveState believes that enterprises gain a competitive advantage when they are able to quickly create, deploy and efficiently manage software solutions that immediately create business value, but they face many challenges that prevent them from doing so. The Company is uniquely positioned to help address these challenges thro...
Apr. 21, 2015 06:15 AM EDT Reads: 2,964
SYS-CON Events announced today that Vitria Technology, Inc. will exhibit at SYS-CON’s @ThingsExpo, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Vitria will showcase the company’s new IoT Analytics Platform through live demonstrations at booth #330. Vitria’s IoT Analytics Platform, fully integrated and powered by an operational intelligence engine, enables customers to rapidly build and operationalize advanced analytics to deliver timely business outcomes for use cases across the industrial, enterprise, and consumer segments.
Apr. 21, 2015 06:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,520
SYS-CON Events announced today that Alert Logic, the leading provider of Security-as-a-Service solutions for the cloud, has been named “Bronze Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo® and DevOps Summit 2015 New York, which will take place June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and the 17th International Cloud Expo® and DevOps Summit 2015 Silicon Valley, which will take place November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Apr. 21, 2015 05:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,864
From telemedicine to smart cars, digital homes and industrial monitoring, the explosive growth of IoT has created exciting new business opportunities for real time calls and messaging. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Ivelin Ivanov, CEO and Co-Founder of Telestax, shared some of the new revenue sources that IoT created for Restcomm – the open source telephony platform from Telestax. Ivelin Ivanov is a technology entrepreneur who founded Mobicents, an Open Source VoIP Platform, to help create, deploy, and manage applications integrating voice, video and data. He is the co-founder of TeleStax, a...
Apr. 21, 2015 05:00 AM EDT Reads: 4,794
SYS-CON Events announced today that Akana, formerly SOA Software, has been named “Bronze Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo® New York, which will take place June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Akana’s comprehensive suite of API Management, API Security, Integrated SOA Governance, and Cloud Integration solutions helps businesses accelerate digital transformation by securely extending their reach across multiple channels – mobile, cloud and Internet of Things. Akana enables enterprises to share data as APIs, connect and integrate applications, drive part...
Apr. 21, 2015 05:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,904


text:
Customers have been waiting two years for a mug that promises to solve a problem every coffee drinker understands.
Now the Temperfect mug is rolling out of production and into the homes of people who are tired of setting down their steaming-hot morning beverage and returning later to find it cold. The mug, created by Triangle inventors Dean Verhoeven and Logan Maxwell, claims to keep coffee or tea at a “drinkable” temperature of 140 degrees for hours.
“Worth the wait!” one person commented on the mug’s Kickstarter campaign.
“I’m so very happy I backed you,” another wrote.
When Verhoeven and Maxwell launched the online fundraising campaign for their project in 2014, they didn’t anticipate how long it would take to get their product to customers who pledged money.
“There have been a lot of unforeseen roadblocks,” said Maxwell, 26, who graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in engineering. “But now it’s finally happening.”
It was tough to find a manufacturer that could make the mugs in large quantities at an affordable price. After finally selecting a manufacturer in China, Verhoeven and Maxwell sent off the design plans.
Verhoeven, a 55-year-old research and computer programming consultant who lives in Wake Forest, even visited the factory twice to ensure the mug was being made correctly. But when the first products arrived at his home months later, they weren’t right – and the team’s backers on Kickstarter were waiting.
The two had to find a different manufacturer and decided to have part of the tumblers made overseas and finish the assembly in Wake Forest. Stations for each stage of assembly were set up in Verhoeven’s basement.
Then, during a storm in 2015, a large tree fell on Verhoeven’s workshop, further slowing production.
Verhoeven’s beverage dream dates back to 1995, when he began exploring materials and researching patents and the perfect beverage temperature. He created and tested more than five prototypes, some of them in the basement of his home. He even designed pieces of equipment required to create the products.
“I wanted to enjoy it and have it be just right,” Verhoeven said.
In 2013, he teamed with Maxwell.
Their efforts led to the Temperfect mug, and they also launched a drinkware company called Joeveo.
The Temperfect mug has three layers – the outer layer is a vacuum, while the inner layer is filled with a “phase-shift” material that turns from solid to liquid at 140 degrees. The material absorbs excess heat, melts and then releases the heat back into the beverage before returning to a solid.
To raise money for design tools and manufacturing, Verhoeven and Maxwell launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $270,000 – more than 11 times the initial goal of $23,500.
Now they are working through their Kickstarter backlog and pre-orders, Maxwell said. In the spring, they hope to be up-to-date on orders and sell the mugs on Amazon.
In the meantime, customers can order Temperfect mugs through an Indiegogo page. Sixteen-ounce tumblers cost between $40 and $45, and tumblers with a fancier finish range from $160 to $400.
Verhoeven is still working on a patent for the mugs.
“It’s been a struggle, lots of ups and downs, but I think now we’re over the hill,” Maxwell said. “We can look back at it now and say, ‘It all led up to success.’ ”
Madison Iszler: 919-836-4952; @madisoniszler
Want a mug?
For now you’ll need to take part in the Indiegogo campaign. $40 gets you one mug in an orange sleeve with an estimated March delivery. Go to http://nando.com/4et to find out more.


text:
Following a competitive pitch process, The Wired Agency [Wired] has won the creative, digital and social remit for a global leader in the pen display and tablet market for creative users, Wacom.
The hi-spec Japanese company has for years been the tablet of choice for designers around the world. Now the brand is making a play for a new, bigger market.
The appointment affirms Wacom’s commitment to its goal of expanding its presence in ANZ.
The Wired Agency’s managing partner, David Kennedy-Cosgrove, said: “Walk into any studio, in any agency around the world and ask the designers what they use and it’ll likely be Wacom.
“The tablet category is ready for a challenger with substance. We’re here to help Simon’s [Wacom] team take this secret to the masses, who deserve a professional quality tablet, with awesome content and creative.”
Senior manager enterprise & partnership ANZ, SEA & India at Wacom ANZ, Simon Marshall, said: “We are really impressed with the creativity, positivity, insights and agility Wired has demonstrated to date and I’m really excited to see what this partnership is going to deliver!”
The Wired Agency’s key clients include: Pizza Hut, Assembly Label, Chatime, Maurie & Eve, Visit Korea, Viking Cruises, Georg Jensen, and TEDx.
Stratosphere and AJF have collaborated with Top Shelf International’s NED Australian Whisky brand for a campaign featuring a combination of TV sponsorship and out of home placement. The campaign features a range of 15 second TV commercials live in key AFL and NRL games on Thursday and Friday nights across regional markets. The sponsorships will […]
To celebrate the start of this year’s football season, which kicked off last weekend, Tiger Beer has unveiled its latest global campaign – ‘The Golden Son’ – starring official Tiger brand ambassador Son Heung-Min. ‘The Golden Son’ celebrates Son’s most recent triumph: in May, he became the first Asian player to win the Premier League’s […]
The One Centre, an ideas and innovation agency, has been engaged by real estate entrepreneur Stefon Bertram and a team of leading agents to create and launch Pello – Sydney s newest real estate agency. The One Centre is responsible for the formation of the brand and the creation of the full Pello brand experience. […]
Online marketplace for freelance work, Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR), today announced a new partnership with Selina, one of the world’s largest experiential hospitality brands built to address the needs of millennial and Gen Z travellers. The purpose of the partnership is to provide Anywhere Workers (i.e. people who work remotely while travelling from at […]
Broadsheet Media has partnered with Campari Group’s The Glen Grant Single Malt Whisky to bring a photography exhibition, Unhurried By Nature, to Melbournians this week. Unhurried by Nature is a collaboration between Broadsheet and The Glen Grant Single Malt Whisky, where four Australian photographers will present images that document nature in their unique styles. The […]
Australian out-of-home business Shopper has launched Shopper Impact to deliver synchronised campaign creative across multiple screens in prominent shopping centre locations. Advertisers can now capitalise on side-by-side screens at shopping centre entry points and near escalators, where distraction from other signage and product offerings is at a minimum. With Shopper Impact, campaign creative can be […]
In this opinion piece, Hayley Fisher (pictured), AUNZ country manager, Adyen describes some of the key ways the retail sector is driving sales despite global financial issues, including new payment technologies and methods. The rising cost of living might have Australians carefully tracking their spending and rethinking their lifestyle habits, but it’s yet to rear […]


text:
RCL Foods informed shareholders this morning that it expects a significant decrease in earnings for its 2023 financial year, largely due to the special levy raised by the South African Sugar Association (SASA) on the company’s sugar business.
In accordance with JSE listing requirements, RCL Foods – which is more than 80% owned by South African investment firm Remgro – informed shareholders that it expects a significant change in its earnings for FY2023 compared to the previous year.
The company expects the following changes to its FY2023 earnings compared to FY2022:
- Headline earnings per share – decrease by between 39.3% to 46%
- Earnings per share – decrease by between 36% and 43%
The company said in a previous trading statement on 4 July 2023 that the decline from the comparative period is largely driven by the impact of the special levy raised by SASA on the group’s sugar business unit.
According to RCL Foods, “The South African sugar industry is in a state of significant uncertainty since the commencement of business rescue proceedings by Tongaat Hulett Sugar and Gledhow Sugar Company.”
“Pre-commencement levies and redistribution payments owed to SASA have not been paid, and this was aggravated by the decision of the appointed business rescue practitioners of Tongaat Hulett Sugar to suspend payment of their statutory industry obligations as at 31 March 2023.”
“As a consequence, the remaining industry participants have had to bear additional costs in the form of a special levy imposed by SASA in terms of the Sugar Act 9 of 1978 and Industry Agreement in order to cover the resulting shortfall.”
The company said the net impact of these special levies raised to date is R234 million (pre-tax impact).
“Any recovery of unpaid levies and redistribution payments from Tongaat Hulett Sugar and Gledhow Sugar Company remains a material unknown at present,” RCL Foods said.
“Litigation has commenced in relation to the lawfulness of the decision by the appointed business rescue practitioners of Tongaat Hulett Sugar to suspend compliance with its statutory obligations.”
Other contributing factors to the company’s performance decline included unrecovered feed costs in Rainbow and the significant impact of load-shedding across all operations.
The company also pointed to a R127.4 million negative fair value adjustment processed at the year-end reporting date concerning RCL Foods’ minority shareholding in The LiveKindly Collective.
RCL Foods’ financial results for the current period are expected to be released on SENS on Monday, 4 September 2023.


text:
The month of May is here and it is finally feeling like summer outside, which calls for a tasty meal from a food truck or refreshing cocktail. So if you have not heard, Pier 13 has officially opened for the season.
The gates to the Mile Square’s popular hangout opened on May 1st as the forecast was indeed perfect. On opening day, the Amanda Bananas, Cubano X-press, and Ms. Fu’s Yummy food trucks made appearances. At these food trucks, customers ordered healthy dairy-free ice cream creations, Cuban delicacies, and Asian bites.
As for beverages, guests were sipping on White Girl Rose’, Punches, and beers of all kind to quench their thirst while catching up with friends or playing Jenga along with Connect Four.
Now that Pier 13 is opened for good, be prepared to satisfy your palette with over the top eats from other food trucks such as Empanada Guy, Mac Truck, Oink n Moo, and more. Activities such as Pet Adoptions, Movies on the Pier, Game Nights, Painting on the Pier among others will be in store as well.
With the weather permitting, Pier 13 will be opened Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 11 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm.


text:
UPDATE: Dec. 23, 2020: Guitar Center has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a reorganization deal that added new equity and debt capital, and boosted the retailer's liquidity, according to a press release. Following the transaction, the company has added Brigade Capital Management and The Carlyle Group to its roster of owners.
"We are excited to have gained the financial and operational flexibility we need to reinvest in our business and support our long-term sustainable growth, allowing us to deliver on our mission of putting more music into the world," Guitar Center CEO Ron Japinga said in the release.
- Guitar Center expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Dec. 31 after recently winning approval in federal bankruptcy court for its reorganization plan, the company said in a press release.
- According to the musical instrument retailer, the plan allows it to shed more than $800 million in debt.
- At the same time, Guitar Center has raised $350 million in new secured notes and expects to have a new asset-based facility worth up to $375 million, as well as $165 million in new equity investments.
Guitar Center has made good on its original goal of a speedy trip through bankruptcy.
When it filed for Chapter 11 in November, the company already had the backing of a large enough group of lenders to support a pre-negotiated reorganization plan to get its approval in a bankruptcy vote. It also had an equity investment lined up from Ares Management, which took over the company in a 2014 restructuring deal, as well as Brigade Capital Management and a Carlyle Group fund.
That support was a signal from major stakeholders that they saw continued value in Guitar Center, even amid a dramatically difficult operating environment in the COVID-19 era.
The retailer was originally founded in 1959 as a single store specializing in organs. The Organ Center started selling guitars and related equipment amid the Beatlemania of the 1960s. Today it is the largest musical instrument retailer in the country.
For years Guitar Center has struggled against its debt load, left from a private equity takeover. During that time, the company let go of knowledgeable staff and shuffled its assortment to include more private label products and fewer of the brands and products prized by musicians, according to Chuck Surack, the CEO of online guitar seller Sweetwater.
"They're good for our industry, even though they're not as good as they used to be," Surack told Retail Dive in a November interview. "Our industry needs them badly. They need to inspire young people to come in and learn how to play an instrument."
COVID-19 brought a new, massive challenge, forcing Guitar Center to temporarily close its stores, cutting off sales along with revenue from music lessons. Even with e-commerce sales on the rise, Guitar Center's total sales for the first half of the year fell by nearly 20% compared to 2019, according to CFO Tim Martin.
That hit was all the more painful given that, before the COVID-19 outbreak, Guitar Center reported 10 straight quarters of comparable sales growth. But Martin said the pandemic "wiped out" much of that progress.
The company missed bond payments in the summer, but avoided bankruptcy at the time through a deal that put off interest payments and preserved cash. Months later, it entered bankruptcy court with a more comprehensive restructuring plan.
Getting some debt relief will be key to Guitar Center's prospects post-bankruptcy. "With our strengthened financial position, we will continue to reinvest and grow our business," CEO Ron Japinga said in the release. "We are nearing the end of a successful holiday season and I am excited about our bright future."
The pandemic prompted many consumers stuck in their homes to buy guitars, for something to do in isolation and as a productive distraction from the year's many stresses. How many of them stay with the instrument and seek out Guitar Center for products and lessons will also be a major factor as the retailer looks beyond bankruptcy and 2020.


text:
Farhad Manjoo in Slate:
One approach for improving the battery is to forget about the battery and instead improve capacitors. A capacitor, like a battery, is a device that stores electrical energy. But capacitors charge and discharge their energy an order of magnitude faster than batteries. So if your phone contained a capacitor rather than a battery, you’d charge it up in a few seconds rather than an hour. But capacitors have a big downside—they’re even less energy dense than batteries. You can’t run a phone off a capacitor unless you wanted a phone bigger than a breadbox.
But what if you could make a dense capacitor, one that stored a lot of energy but also charged and discharged very quickly? Over the past few years, researchers at several companies and institutions around the world have been racing to do just that. They’re in hot pursuit of the perfect “supercapacitor,” a kind of capacitor that stores energy usingcarbon electrodes that are immersed in an electrolyte solution. Until recently, though, supercapacitors have been expensive to produce, and their energy densities have fallen far short of what’s theoretically possible. One of the most promising ways of creating supercaps uses graphene—a much-celebrated substance composed of a one-atom layer of carbon—but producing graphene cheaply at scale has proved elusive.
Then something unexpectedly amazing happened. Maher El-Kady, a graduate student in chemist Richard Kaner’s lab at UCLA, wondered what would happen if he placed a sheet of graphite oxide—an abundant carbon compound—under a laser. And not just any laser, but a really inexpensive one, something that millions of people around the world already have—a DVD burner containing a technology called LightScribe, which is used for etching labels and designs on your mixtapes. As El-Kady, Kaner, and their colleagues described in a paper published last year in Science, the simple trick produced very high-quality sheets of graphene, very quickly, and at low cost.


text:
Resurfaced emails have confirmed that Steve Jobs and Apple had been engaged on an iPhone nano again in 2011.
Plainly the iPhone household tree might have seemed a lot totally different, as in 2011 there have been rumours Apple can be engaged on the iPhone ‘nano’, which might have been a smaller and cheaper various to the iPhone 4, the flagship Apple cellphone on the time.
Based on a current report by The Verge, regardless of the very fact the iPhone nano by no means noticed the sunshine of day, outdated emails had been uncovered that proved Steve Jobs was wanting into the potential of a nano cellphone at one level.
The e-mail, sadly, doesn’t give us a lot data on what the aforementioned cellphone would have seemed like, however there’s a sub-section for the ‘iPhone nano plan’ and ‘price aim’, so evidently the concept was seemingly nonetheless in very early improvement.
Trying on the email above, evidently there was a chance of an “iPhone mannequin primarily based on iPod contact to interchange 3GS,” although it’s not completely clear what iPhone mannequin they had been referencing.
Round this time interval, the iPod nano was nonetheless going robust with the sixth technology mannequin, so it will have made sense to utilise a few of that branding and apply it to the road of iPhones.
Nonetheless, we haven’t heard something about an iPhone nano since, and the final iPod nano debuted in 2015 and was discontinued in 2017, so it’s secure to say that no matter energy the nano used to carry has gone now.
As an alternative, Apple took a flip and began branding its tech as ‘Mini’, which has purchased us such units because the iPhone 12 Mini and the HomePod Mini, so should you’re after a smaller model of a few of Apple’s flagship merchandise, it looks like you’ll must make do with Mini and never nano.


text:
8 Outdoor has suffered a major blow as it has lost the licence to manage about 70 digital advertising screens, with bigger rival Global picking up the contract.
Insite, the landlord that owns the out-of-home sites, said it decided to "terminate" the licence with its tenant, 8 Outdoor, because the company had fallen behind on payments.
Alan Brydon, chairman of 8 Outdoor, admitted the loss of the Insite contract was "a big setback".
He said 8 Outdoor has lost about 70 screens, or around two-thirds of its portfolio.
The company, which specialises in large-format, roadside digital out-of-home screens, is "looking at options" as it considers its future.
Brydon said 8 Outdoor was hunting for new investment to "fund growth and expansion" before Insite took back its sites and talks with investors are ongoing.
He added that 8 Outdoor is operating as normal. "We continue to trade on all of our sites," Brydon told Campaign.
However, it is thought that 8 Outdoor is taking precautions and exploring whether it needs to consider putting the company into administration.
8 Outdoor declined to comment on whether it has been in contact with administrators.
Global’s expanding portfolio
Global’s OOH division was already a tenant of Insite and will take over all of the screens that the landlord is planning to take back from 8 Outdoor. Most of the sites are believed to be located outside London.
Dan Maiden, founder and chief executive of Insite, which owns more than 1,500 advertising hoardings, said: "We’ve been licensing a number of digital sites across the entire UK to 8 Outdoor for several years, but they have not been paying our licence fees recently, so we reluctantly decided to terminate those licences.
"We have subsequently managed to agree a new licence with Global Outdoor for a portfolio of digital sites, including those formerly operated by 8 Outdoor."
It is understood that Global, Britain’s biggest commercial radio group and second-biggest OOH group, could be adding as many as 100 screens to its estate as part of its expanded deal with Insite.
Global has aggressively entered the OOH sector and consolidated the market, spending as much as £750m to buy Exterion Media, Primesight and Outdoor Plus last autumn.
The triple M&A deal took Global, which is controlled by the Tabor family, from zero to more than 30% market share in OOH, behind JCDecaux.
It was not immediately clear how the additional inventory from Insite might add to Global’s share.
A Global spokesman said: "Global has simply signed a new tenancy agreement with Insite, one of Global’s existing landlords for outdoor advertising sites.
"This is just a licence deal for a number of Insite’s outdoor advertising sites, some of which we understand Insite had previously licensed to 8 Outdoor."
8 Outdoor insists it can 'grow again'
SIS Digital Vision, a manufacturer of OOH screens and infrastructure, set up 8 Outdoor in 2015.
Simon Grice, chief executive of SIS Digital Vision, wanted to expand into ad sales and 8 Outdoor built up a portfolio of DOOH sites, which included Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Leeds and Manchester.
Following Insite’s decision to terminate its contract, Brydon said 8 Outdoor’s portfolio is set to shrink to about 40 screens, which are owned by a number of landlords.
"It’s a big setback, but the fundamental principles haven’t changed one iota [in terms of the growth opportunity in DOOH]," Brydon said.
"Obviously, you’d prefer to do it with over 100 screens, not 40. We have been pushed back 18 months to two years – that’s when we last had about 40 screens. With a fair wind and if things go right, we can grow again."
SIS Digital Vision previously won investment from a Chinese firm, Sun Hung Kai & Co, which bought a minority stake for £11m in March 2018.
Analysts say DOOH is growing because advertisers value the medium’s ability to reach audiences at scale and to target by location and time of day – with the potential for fast-turnaround, digital creative executions.
Global, which owns radio stations including Capital, Classic, Heart and LBC, won the approval of the Competition & Markets Authority to buy Exterion Media in April.
The group has moved quickly to complete the integration of Exterion Media, Primesight and Outdoor Plus.
The three subsidiaries became one division and rebranded as Global on 8 July.
Leon Taviansky, former chief executive of Exterion Media, became chief executive, outdoor and Jonathan Lewis, founder of Outdoor Plus and a seasoned OOH operator, became executive director.
One industry observer suggested Global has been "clever" as it has added Insite’s screens to its OOH portfolio without having to make an acquisition.
Global has 235,000 sites – a mix of "classic" posters and more valuable DOOH screens – across the UK and Europe.


text:
CHINA: Overcapacity driving down cashmere quality
China's cashmere industry needs to cut capacity and raise quality if the sector is to retain its luxury positioning, says Andrew Bartmess, chief executive of UK cashmere group Dawson International.
Speaking with just-style during a cashmere forum in Beijing last week, Bartmess said overcapacity in China is driving down prices and levels of quality.
"Cashmere is becoming more and more of a commodity, no-one in the industry is making money anymore," he said.
Bartmess believes there could be double the capacity actually needed in China to turn the available cashmere fibre into garments.
"When a large order comes in, giving manufacturers the opportunity to use up some of their capacity, it's hard for them to push for a higher price."
This large capacity and growing demand for lower cost cashmere garments from mass market retailers has in turn encouraged Chinese traders to accept lower quality, coarser raw material from Inner Mongolian and Mongolian goat herders.
"The level of quality available before just doesn't exist anymore," said Bartmess.
Leading Chinese cashmere companies attending the forum said they want to reverse this trend but it could take time to persuade both traders and farmers to focus on quality.
Farmers earn CNY20 (US$2.7) per goat each year for its cashmere hair, estimated one Chinese producer, and quantity has become more important than hair quality.
Bartmess is calling for the branding of high quality raw material for use in high-end garments. "There would be people prepared to pay for that higher quality, like us," he said.
China produces 70% of the world's cashmere but margins on the luxury fibre have plummeted in recent years. One producer, Inner Mongolia Dongda, says its margins are down from about 200% ten years ago to 3% today.
By Dominique Patton.
Help test our new apparel sourcing tool.
- Trump and the apparel industry – Infographic
- How US border adjustment tax could affect apparel
- British Brexit plans prioritise tariff-free trade
- Apparel factory auditing is in the firing line
- NRF 2017 – Retail tech launches and developments
- Cambodia clothing exports at risk from Brexit
- Apparel brands urge Bangladesh PM to address wages
- New project to digitalise European fashion chains
- Brands need to tackle Turkey factory refugee abuse
- JC Penney to roll out hundreds of Nike "shops"
- Outdoor performance apparel 2016: A broader perspective
- Southeast Asia strategic sourcing review – a focus on Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar
- Anti-odour clothing: fresh fashion for an active lifestyle
- Global apparel markets: product developments and innovations, October 2016
- Global market review of lingerie – forecasts to 2022


text:
Kaleil Isaza Tuzman on Kit Digital's Video Services
|Running Time: 268 seconds
||Published: 2011-01-11 11:26:23
Kit Digital, the Prague-based video services company, has over 1100 customers around the world, has recently reported $47 million in annual revenue and is growing organically and through acquisitions including the Feedroom and last month's $14 million purchase of Multicast. Last week, we sat down with Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, chairman and CEO for an update. He calls the company "the biggest video enablement company you probably never heard of." Kit purchased Roo in 2008 and later went public.
More Videos on "Computers And Internet"...


text:
As promised, Microsoft is issuing a security patch for a Flash vulnerability on Windows 8 in Internet Explorer 10. Though the operating system has yet to see its official public release, researchers testing the RTM version found a bug that could cause Flash to crash and allow for attackers to take control of a user's machine. Additionally, the company is rolling out an update to address a security hole in Internet Explorer versions 7 and 8 on Windows XP -- and IE 9 on Windows 7 and Windows Vista -- which left the door open for hackers to spread malware via a specially designed Flash animation. Both security patches are available via Microsoft's Windows Update service.
Microsoft issues security patches for Flash vulnerabilities in Windows 8 and Internet Explorer
In this article: browser, browsers, IE 10, ie 7, ie 8, ie 9, Ie10, Ie7, Ie8, Ie9, internet explorer, Internet Explorer 10, internet explorer 7, internet explorer 8, internet explorer 9, InternetExplorer, InternetExplorer10, InternetExplorer7, InternetExplorer8, InternetExplorer9, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, MicrosoftWindows, minipost, security patch, Security Patches, security vulnerabilities, SecurityPatch, SecurityPatches, SecurityVulnerabilities, vulnerabilities, vulnerability, windows, windows 7, Windows 8, windows 8 rtm, windows update, windows vista, windows xp, Windows7, Windows8, Windows8Rtm, WindowsUpdate, WindowsVista, WindowsXp
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


text:
After McDonald’s franchisees, Honda Car dealer, it is FMCG Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) that is facing the ire of the government for allegedly not passing on price reduction benefit to consumers post-GST rollout. According to PTI, the Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) has slapped notice for profiteering on HUL, seeking details from the company about the pre and post GST prices of its entire products range.
The DGS last month served notices to the franchisee of McDonald’s family restaurant — Hardcastle Restaurant for the price of its “McCafe Regular Latte”, and two other entities, including retail shopping outlet Lifestyle International, for allegedly not passing the benefit of cost reduction to consumers. This is the sixth notices served by the DGS under the Anti-Profiteering rule.
In November last year, the government formed National Anti-profiteering Authority under the GST after it found out that benefits were not being passed on to customers. According to the anti-profiteering rules, the authority will suggest the return of the undue profit earned from not passing on the reduction in tax to consumers along with an 18 percent interest and also impose a penalty.
After the 23rd GST Council meeting, the body announced rate cuts on as many as 178 items and sternly asked companies to pass the benefit to customers. The GST Council also reduced rates on all restaurants to 5%, and withdrew Input Tax Credit (ITC) benefit after it was found that the restaurants were not passing this benefit to customers as well.
As part of its investigation, the DGS usually looks into for company’s balance sheet, profit and loss account, GST
returns and details of invoice wise outward taxable supplies. It also scrutinises the price list prior to and post-GST
“We have accelerated our networks covering more than 800 SKUs (stock keeping units) to reduce prices and increase grammage in case of price point packs and most of these have already landed in the market,” HUL told PTI.
As per the structure of the anti-profiteering mechanism in the GST regime, complaints of local nature will be first sent to the state-level ‘screening committee’, while those of national level will be marked for the ‘standing committee’. If the complaints have merit, the respective committees will refer the cases for further investigation to the DGS. The DGS is mandated to complete its investigation within 3 months and may seek an extension of a further 3 months from the standing committee.


text:
On September 27, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement agreement with four companies – IDmission, LLC, (“IDmission”) mResource LLC (doing business as Loop Works, LLC) (“mResource”), SmartStart Employment Screening, Inc. (“SmartStart”), and VenPath, Inc. (“VenPath”) – over allegations that each company had falsely claimed to have valid certifications under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework. The FTC alleged that SmartStart, VenPath and mResource continued to post statements on their websites about their participation in the Privacy Shield after allowing their certifications to lapse. IDmission had applied for a Privacy Shield certification but never completed the necessary steps to be certified.
In addition, the FTC alleged that both VenPath and SmartStart failed to comply with a provision under the Privacy Shield requiring companies that cease participation in the Privacy Shield framework to affirm to the Department of Commerce that they will continue to apply the Privacy Shield protections to personal information collected while participating in the program.
As part of the proposed settlements with the FTC, each company is prohibited from misrepresenting their participation in any privacy or data security program sponsored by the government or any self-regulatory or standard-setting organization and must comply with FTC reporting requirements. Further, VenPath and SmartStart must either (1) continue to apply the Privacy Shield protections to personal information collected while participating in the Privacy Shield; (2) protect it by another means authorized by the Privacy Shield framework; or (3) return or delete the information within 10 days of the FTC’s order.
“Companies need to know that if they fail to honor their Privacy Shield commitments, or falsely claim participation in the Privacy Shield framework, we will hold them accountable,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “We have now brought enforcement actions against eight companies related to the Privacy Shield, and we will continue to aggressively enforce the Privacy Shield and other cross-border privacy frameworks.”
Update: On November 19, 2018, the Commission voted to give final approval to the settlements with the four companies.


text:
Even that many shoppers prefer to go to malls in person, this year the online shoppers increased 18% percent than the last year’s black Friday on Adobe!
Shoppers have spent $640 million online today from 10 a.m. ET, up to 18.4 percent from last year, according to Adobe Analytics. Adobe tracks 80 percent of online transactions at the top 100 U.S. retailers.
The strong start to Black Friday continues what has already been a strong online shopping season, buttressed by a strong stock market and consumer confidence.
“In each of the first 22 days of November more than $1 billion in revenue was rung up online, according to Adobe.”
“On Thanksgiving evening, up until 5 p.m. ET, shoppers spent more than $1.52 billion, up 16.8 percent according to adobe”
Today is expected by the data tracker to be the largest online shopping day in history, with an expected $6.6 billion in sales. In all, online holiday spending is expected to generate $107 billion in sales, an increase of 14 percent.


text:
The Prime Minister has re-affirmed his commitment to re-open hospitality businesses “no earlier than 4th July”, but the industry is a long way from satisfied.
Alex Reilley, executive chairman at Loungers, Tweeted: “When it comes to the complete lack of guidance about re-opening, I don’t think hospitality is feeling particularly thankful of the government at the moment, if I’m honest.”
Fuller’s chief executive, Simon Emeny, agreed, replying: “Given the sector’s perilous financial position, why should we be expected to now increase debt further and confuse colleagues and customers for a date that government won’t commit to?”
And St Austell Brewery chief executive, Kevin Georgel, added: “Totally agree guys, making a bad situation worse. We appreciate this is challenging for the government. Throughout the crisis the industry has been very supportive and constructive, but we now feel completely let down. Not too late to change that @BorisJohnson @beisgovuk.”
UKHospitality has welcomed the publication of reopening guidance for tourism and hospitality businesses by the Scottish government. It says the guidance will provide clarity and certainty for businesses with an indicative start date of 15th July.
But the trade body has signalled its disappointment that the opening of outdoor areas for pubs and restaurants will not be confirmed until 2nd July, two weeks later than expected.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, added: “Pubs and bars across Scotland will be somewhat disappointed by this announcement, with many expecting to be given a definitive date today for re-opening their outdoor space to allow them to start preparing to open again.
“That’s sadly not the case, with these businesses now having to wait a further two weeks before any clarity on when they can welcome back their customers into beer gardens and other outdoor areas.”
Ten Points to Save Pubs
Meanwhile, the newly-launched Campaign for Pubs has published its Ten Points to Save Pubs. They are:
- A definite date for opening, now!
- Social distancing of one metre
- Clear full guidance for pubs and insurance companies
- Relaxation of restrictions to allow all space to be used
- A mandatory Covid-19 rent code and statutory right to rent review for all pub tenants
- A rent-free period for all pubs and protection from landlords if rent cannot be paid
- Furlough where pubs are unable to viably/safely trade due to government restrictions
- VAT to 5% for at least 12 months
- Business rates reform and rates relief for all pubs until a reformed system comes in
- A 12-month ban on all change of use for pubs


text:
Hacker ‘Guccifer’ leaks emails from noted venture capitalistPUBLISHED: 22 Mar 2013 14:32:00 | UPDATED: 25 Mar 2013 16:27:58PUBLISHED: 22 Mar 2013 PRINT EDITION: 23 Mar 2013
John Doerr, a venture capitalist known for early investments becomes the latest victim of the hacker known as Guccifer.
Already a subscriber? Please login here
Stay with the story for less than $1.90 a day


text: < PrevNext > The Need for Speed: The New Opportunity for Traveler Servicing By Festive Road Tech Geek Aurelie Krau / January 24, 2020 Share You probably won’t get to the end of this article. Our attention spans are getting shorter, dropping in the last 20 years from 12 seconds to just eight today. Unlock. Click. Tap. Load. Swipe. Like. Book. Pay. Ta-da. Done! The Path to MoreWe live in the world of the three I’s: information, interaction and instantaneity. The early 2000s set the path for our always-connected world of smartphones, social media, collaborative platforms and hyperlinks in the middle of everything you read. But we have just entered a new era, so get ready for much more. A major technology shift is underway which will undeniably have an impact on our personal and professional lives in the coming years. More information: Data is created and consumed every second at an exponential rate. It’s generated by mobile usage and ever richer content: high-definition pictures, live streaming, videoconferencing, live chat and social media live feeds are just a few sources. More interaction: Pretty much everything we do depends on connectivity today, from a simple Google or Alexa query to advanced artificial intelligence, telemedicine, self-driving cars, augmented/virtual/mixed reality and even more futuristic technology. All the things that will make our (business) lives easier, safer and healthier will require high-speed transmission technologies.More instantaneity: The promise is that 5G will transmit data at incredibly fast speeds—the kind that would let you download an entire movie in a few seconds, keep up with mobile devices on high speed trains, connect hundreds of thousands of objects together. We are talking about a tech more than 600 times faster than the typical 4G speeds on today’s mobile phones. According to EVP & CEO of Verizon Consumer Group Ronan Dunne, a lot of businesses haven’t really realized how revolutionary 5G is. At The Web Summit in Lisbon last November, he said it will reshape business and society: “It’s not simply a faster horse, it’s what the automobile was to the horse.” What Does it Mean for Travel?Meanwhile, in the travel sector, the maturing of the API world is the first step that will bring our industry to the next level. It is now becoming possible to plug and play content and inventory much more easily than in the previous decade. Plus, industry tech standards are aimed at facilitating connectivity. With all this in mind, it’s time to shift our thinking beyond the shopping experience and, instead, focus efforts on services brought to travelers while they are on-the-go. The mobile device is the business traveler’s best friend. The maturing of the mobile world and the emergence of hyper speed through 5G offers those with traveler touchpoints today to leverage all that lovely data and give the traveler what they need, when they need it. Time to reload the traveler experience.Good news: Your travel strategy has just reached a whole new level for 2020. Swipe. Lock. Done.


text:
SteelSeries intros Shift MMO Keyset add-on
Gaming peripherals maker SteelSeries recently introduced its Shift MMO Keyset for gamers. The accessory attaches to the company's already available Shift gaming keyboard, and brings with it pre-programmed layers of the most common MMO emotes, and users can switch between three layers of programmable keys, which are pre-configured for custom mappings. An anti-ghosting feature lets users press up to seven keys at the same time.
HTC Shift Review
HTC has been a veteran of smartphones but has only just recently ventured into handheld computers, and the Shift represents its first full-fledged attempt at an ultra-mobile PC. The system promises to take all of HTC's experience with handsets and translate it into a full-fledged Windows computer that happens to have the conveniences of a cellphone; but its real challenges may be both to compete with a new wave of notebooks as well as extra-capable cellphones like iPhone 3G. Click through for a full review of HTC's inaugural device.
HTC Atom Based MIDs
HTC is gearing up to produce mobile Internet devices (MIDs) based on Intel's Atom processor as well as Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile chipset, say reports from those in the industry. The reports would have the creator of the HTC Shift and other crossover computers produce the systems with the faster, more power-efficient chips as early as the second half of this year in a bid to improve HTC's standing in ultra-mobile PCs, which have been hurt by mini notebooks like the ASUS Eee PC.


text:
After a down advertising year in 2005 for many news magazines, 2006 is not looking noticeably better – at least through November. Most of the big news titles are either seeing losses or only small increases in ad pages. A strong December could change the picture somewhat, but it seems safe to say that 2006 won't go down as a big year for the news magazines' bottom lines.
Among the big three news titles, U.S. News & World Report—which sells far fewer pages than its two major competitors—led the way with an increase of 2.7% in ad pages for the first 11 months of 2006 compared with the same period last year. Time registered an increase of just over a half percent (.6%) over 2005, while Newsweek saw a slight drop of just under a half a percent (minus .3%). What's more those anemic numbers follow a disappointing 2005, when Time's and Newsweek's ad pages dropped by 12% and 11% respectively compared with 2004. U.S. News saw a smaller decline of .6% in 2005. (Both Time and Newsweek have announced newsstand price increases slated to go into effect next year.)
Of the other news titles that the PEJ tracks, the New Yorker has had the roughest 2006 with a decline in ad pages of 13.4% through November. The Economist is basically flat ( a .1% increase). Even The Week, an industry success story over the past few years, looks like it is headed for a down 2006, with ad pages decreasing 3.7%. The good news for these three magazines it is that they are all growing their circulation, which may allow them to increase their advertising rates.
If there is one bright spot amidst the bleak numbers in the news magazine category, it is the Washington policy weekly National Journal, which has seen ad pages jump by 15.5% through November. One theory is that the Beltway-based chronicler of Capitol Hill reaped the benefits of a long and heated midterm election season.
Read News Magazines Stumbling to the Finish Line in 2006 on the Project for Excellence in Journalism Web site.


text:
Significant success in the vape industry! Hong Kong has failed to ban vape in 2019. Vape shops in Hong Kong and Hong Kong vapers are finally saved.
The following news titles are misleading people which makes people thought the vapes are banned in Hong Kong:
Above title says Hong Kong intends to jail the vaping offenders. However, the news in CNN is about the draft law by Chief Executive Carrie Lam that the Hong Kong government announced plans to push ahead with a controversial blanket ban on all e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products. And this law hasn’t passed by the authorities.
Above title expresses Hong Kong pushes ahead the overall ban on vapes, however, the legislative council failed in banning the vape. It’s only a “proposed ban” rejected by the legislative council according to the South Morning Post.
Above title denotes that Hong Kong is about to ban vapes. However, it failed when it’s just an idea according to Vaping360,”Cigarettes and other combustible products will remain legal to buy and sell.”
Vaping in HK – Hong Kong Forum – TripAdvisor
And according to TripAdvisor true vape user in Hong Kong, it’s OK to use vape privately. “I’m in Hongkong international airport right now. And it is legal to vape in the smoking lounge. I am doing so right now as I am typing. As for vaping outside, a dude sitting next to me said no you cannot electronic cigarettes outside.” “You can smoke IQOS, but they don’t sell the heet sticks in hk. you can bring your own but customs limited to 19 sticks.”
Vape is not banned in Hong Kong in 2019.


text:
New car sales are down – again – for the seventh month in a row. Which means they've been slipping all year long so far. The last time it was this slow was about ten years ago – which was the last time the car business fell down and almost couldn't get back up again.
Several factors are in play – some of them undiscussed.
One, interest rates on new car loans have been inching up slowly but steadily since 2013, when they were near zero or actually were zero (free financing).
The average rate – assuming excellent credit, which many people haven't got – is currently about 4.74 percent. It was closer to 4 percent a couple of years ago. It's still extremely low relative to the double-digit financing that was common in the '70s – but the average new car cost less then (you could buy a full-size American sedan like the 1970 Ford LTD for $22,700 in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars) and people had more money available to buy them because they weren't hemorrhaging money on things like health insurance (and medical care, which is something different) as they are today.
The average monthly cost of health insurance for a single – and healthy – individual is almost $500. Many people are paying a great deal more.
There's less cushion in the budget now – which almost certainly explains why about half the new car loans made today are long-term (60 months or more). This is about twice as long as they were back in 1970 – when the interest rate on the average new car loan was 11.5 percent but the typical new car loan was paid off in just 36 months.
Today, it is common for people to make payments on a new car for 72 months – or even longer.
New car loans are made to seem more affordable by spreading out the payments over a longer period of time. But that doesn't mean they are more affordable.
But it may be the hidden – or at least, undiscussed – costs of new car ownership that accounts for the wilting of new car sales, in spite of still-easy financing.
Insurance costs have been skyrocketing because of the skyrocketing repair costs of today's cars, which can suffer thousands of dollars in damage from very low-speed fender-bender accidents – because new cars no longer have bumpers.
Instead, they have pretty but fragile body-colored plastic bumper covers (the structural parts of the car designed to absorb impact forces are behind the cosmetic parts of the car) that are easily torn or torn right off the car. Often, the whole "assembly" must be replaced after a minor accident – along with incidental (but not inexpensive plastic trim pieces, such as the grille).